Women's College Soccer
Rider University 2, Niagara University 1
LAWRENCEVILLE-Freshman Jody Sokol had a goal and an assist to lead Rider to a come-from-behind Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory over Niagara Friday night. "What a fantastic result," said Rider head coach Drayson Hounsome. "I thought we showed great character coming back from being down a goal."
Sokol (Bensalem, PA/Bensalem) took a pass from freshman Bridgette Bartkowski (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) and scored her fourth goal of the season, tying the score at 1-1 with 3:25 left in the first half. Freshman Sarah Cirigliano (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) also collected an assist on the play.
"Ziggy (Cirigliano) took a really nice run down the side, sent it across to Jet (Bartkowski), who settled it and flicked it across the middle and I just finished it off," said Sokol.
"Every time Jody steps on the field I feel like she is going to score," Hounsome said. "She finds ways to put the ball in the net."
Sokol came into the game 15 minutes into the game. "She isn't really coming in off the bench," Hounsome said. "We just have a lot of good forwards. She provides a lot of energy when she comes in but I don't see her as a sub. She's a starter in my mind."
Sophomore Abi Cottam (Leominster, England/Ludlow) took a pass from Sokol and scored the game winner in the 58th minute of play, her team-high sixth goal of the season. "Abi is scoring goals," Hounsome said. "She's doing well. Once the weather cools off, the better she plays."
"Abi is amazing," Sokol said. "I look up to her as a forward. She is great to play with. I have never played with anyone as talented as her. She's great."
Niagara (5-3-1, 0-1 MAAC) out-shot Rider (5-3-2, 1-0 MAAC) 14-11, although Rider had eight shots on goal to Niagara's seven. "Niagara was very aggressive, very physical," Sokol said. "They played at a fast pace."
Rider senior goalkeeper Alex Post (Chalfont, Pa./Central Bucks West) made six saves. "Alex made some big saves in the first half when we weren't quite clicking," Hounsome said
NU's Ashleigh Bowers, who came into the game with the best goals against average and save percentage in the MAAC, made six saves for the Purple Eagles.
"I felt (sophomore) Meghan Mohr (Holtsville, N.Y./Sachem) was fantastic tonight," Hounsome said. "She was brilliant at right back. She is almost like a right winger."
Senior Lauren Musumeci (Annandale, N.J./North Hunterdon) had five of Rider's 11 shots and three of the eight shots on goal. "Moose was dangerous today," Hounsome said. Musumeci, an Andrew J. Rider Scholar, is fourth at Rider in career scoring but has not yet found the back of the net this year. "It was a bit of the old Moose tonight."
The last time Rider defeated Niagara was 2004. These two teams have now met 14 times since the series began in 1997 with Rider winning five. Rider lost 2-1 at Niagara last year and 3-0 at Rider on Senior Day in 2008.
Niagara was the MAAC runner-up last year and won the 2006 MAAC Championship. "They are a good team," Hounsome said.
After going 6-1 at home last year the Broncs are now 3-0-1 at home this season, including 2-0 in home night games. "The night games definitely help," Hounsome said. "Friday night, under the lights, provides extra energy."
"I love playing at night," Sokol said.
Rider begins MAAC play 1-0 for the first time since 2007. "That sets us up for where we want to be," Hounsome said. "Being a conference game I was very nervous before the game," Sokol admitted. "But everyone played hard and played great."
Rider hosts Canisius in a 1pm MAAC game Sunday. "Canisius is another good team with good forwards. It will be a tough one," Hounsome said. "If we play like we did tonight it is going to be a good season."
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